The Ramsay Report

March 13, 2017

Sunday was cold and sunny. There were 5
people at the 8:00 AM service and 34 in attendance at the 10:00 AM
service. It was the Second Sunday In Lent. Both services were Morning
Prayer Rite II lead by The Rev. Marjorie Boyden-Edmonds, Deacon. The
Gospel Reading was from John 3:1-17. There was a Pharisee named
Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to
him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for
no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.”
Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom
of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can
anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into
the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you,
no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and
Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the
Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be
born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the
sound of it, but you do know where it come from or where it goes. So it
is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How
can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel,
and yet you do not understand these things? “Very truly, I tell you, we
speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not
receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you
do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from
heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes
in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave
his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but
may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world
to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through
him.” We learn from this passage of Nicodemus’ visit to Jesus to
question him about his great abilities to teach and that they can only
come from God and how Jesus tells him, that he cannot know about God
without being born from above. We must experience the miracle of our
birth from above into eternal life with God. It is the gift of life from
God that draws us to Jesus and his lesson of love.

The altar greenery was given by Tom and
Jeanine Carroll to the glory of God and in celebration of Ruth
Rutigliano’s birthday and her continued healing. The Sanctuary lamp was
given by Susan and Paul Parfrey to the glory of God and in celebration
of April Ryan’s first birthday. The Vigil Lamp was given by Irma Sommer
to the glory of God and in celebration of John Sommer’s birthday.

WHERE WAS EVERYBODY?-This past weekend, was
the Youth Retreat at Camp DeWolfe. The Byrnes, the Jr. Warden, the
sexton, and many of the acolytes were there! Many thanks for helping to
make this annual event possible! Our organist was about 4,000
miles away in Estonia, leading a music Academy. We should be back to
normal next Sunday!

CAMP DeWOLFE 70TH ANNIVERSARY-Our
Diocesan Camp turns 70 this year. There is a celebratory
luncheon/fundraiser on March 18th at the camp. If you would
like to join the All Saints’ table, there is ONE place left! It would be
great if we could fill the table! Tickets are $100.00. Please speak to
Father Byrne if you are interested in taking part. We will carpool
out to the camp, leaving All Saints’ by 11:30 AM.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY LUNCHEON-The annual St.
Patrick’s Day Luncheon will be held on Sunday, March 19th
following the 10:00 AM service. There is a sign-up sheet posted. The
cost is $20.00/adults and $7.00/children 12 and under.

COFFEE HOUR IS GOING GREEN-The new dishwasher
is up and running in the Common Room kitchen, and we are (intentionally)
running out of Styrofoam cups. Once the Styrofoam is gone, we do not
intend to replace it. We will at some point be getting All Saints’ mugs,
but until then, you are encouraged to bring in a mug or two (or six) to
use here.

Have a great week and be careful on Tuesday
with the impending blizzard. Hope to see you all next Sunday!